The Ecovillage site features a number of existing swales, drainage lines, and ephemeral and more permanent wetlands and water bodies. In a good rain event, the site comes alive with widespread pooling, a number of temporary overland flows and formation of larger water bodies. Several of the more permanent wetter areas have been excavated as farm dams.
The drainage system on this site offers great opportunities for recreating wetlands and revegetation with a good diversity of local wetland plant species. This will create important habitat for wetland fauna, such as frogs and bird species that would have once lived on the site prior to clearance of vegetation, as well as treat stormwater runoff to a high standard and add aesthetic beauty to the landscape.
The Ecovillage will implement worlds best practice Water Sensitive Urban Design, including detention and retention wetlands to lower peak flows, raingardens, vegetated swales and water bodies to facilitate water infiltration and pollutant filtration. This integrated approach treats stormwater as a resource rather than a burden and considers all aspects of runoff within a development.
Wetlands and waterways are often the “soul” of a development, providing opportunities for residents to interact with and observe nature. Access to these wetlands will be both encouraged and controlled through the construction of walkways and boardwalks.
Interpretation signage explaining the value and importance of wetlands will be installed at wetland sites in the Ecovillage.
